A Year in Bordeaux

Last Sunday marked a year since our move to sunny Bordeaux and we took a little bit of time out of a busy period to go out for dinner and celebrate.  We also enjoyed our regular Sunday morning stroll through the market on the quays, the sun shining and summer still with us for the time being.  However, a new element of stress was thrown upon us when I received the same weekend an email from my tennant in the flat in Surbiton.  She is moving out in December and I have until then to either re-let or sell it, otherwise it’s going to be empty with a huge mortgage to cover.  Very unsettling!

I contacted several estate agents on Monday morning and chose two to carry out valuations on the flat.  Unfortunately, the tennant then decided to be completely uncooperative when they tried to arrange to go around, giving me a whole set of new problems to deal with.  Eventually, they’re scheduled in to go this coming Monday, but I’m concerned that this is going to be very difficult, especially as I’m not in a position to go round there at the moment.

The week turned out to be very stressful on the work-front too, but the last forms have finally been completed, non-paying clients have been chased and a new assistant has been found, so hopefully things will go slightly smoother from next week.  I have a little bit of translation work booked in for the early part of the week and new teacher contracts to complete, but I’m quite relaxed about all of that.  I’m feeling a lot more relaxed about our preparations for the baby too now that we’re starting to gather what we need.  This weekend, I finished the first side of my baby blanket and we went to the store where we ordered the bed, pram etc and they should have our order in for collection in two weeks.  Once the bed is up and ready in our room, I think I will feel a lot more calm.

To end on a nice note, we’ve rewarded our rather trying week with a nice weekend together.  Today there was a festival right next to where we live, and we enjoyed a stroll through the stalls and a lunch outside in the sunshine.  Tomorrow, we’re looking forward to catching up with some old salsa friends from London, who are visiting Arcachon for the weekend.  I’m rushing this off now, as my dinner has just been placed beside me by my wonderful JF.  More to follow about the weekend …:-)

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